Paging Dr. Dirtball ...

Okay, because of the huge and hard chunks of lung cookie that I hack up every morning, and the murderous green color of said cookies, I have made an appointment with Dr. Dirtball for Wednesday morning. Wednesday was the soonest I could get in with my schedule. I don't want to miss work to go if I can help it.

But I've had a fever off and on for a week, been sick for three weeks and last night, kept Eric awake with my coughing and coughing and coughing and coughing.
::sigh::

Like I have extra time to mess around with doctor stuff.

Monday was physical therapy. Then, the doctor who is taking care of me with the lumbar strain and around the edges with the right knee.

And work at 2. Which I showed up for around one. Because while I was driving home from PT/Doctor my cell phone rang and I was asked to be there earlier.

I'll be there even earlier today. At noon. Noon to six. Which keeps my hours up and can be lots of fun. It can also get boring for the kids.

You see, the company has planned a science curriculum for us to do. And we'll do it. Some of it will even be fun for the kids and cause excitement. And I'll do my best to be enthusiastic and upbeat. Personally, I'm excited about dissecting the owl pellets. I've never done that before, and I have heard it's really interesting.

Plus there's the poop factor, which, well, what kid doesn't love that?

But one thing the over paid curriculum experts (OPCE) consistently fail to take into account is that kids get bored, they need frequent changes in activities and energy levels, and most important, choices. Lots of choices.

If they love the idea of doing an experiment, I will leave the supplies out and encourage them to use them all up and do exactly that... experiment.

But if they would rather do something artistic or hands on, well, I have that covered, too.

I brought a big clear box full of plastic cups from Costco.

There were originally 480 of them, but more than a few have been crushed/cracked/broken with the enthusiasm of many kids building and breaking towers and forts. Want to have some cheap fun with your kids? You can pick up a package of 240 cups for 10 bucks. Totally worth it.

I brought the tent that Eric made from PVC. Remember that? It's here.

The kids were really excited helping set it up. On Monday, it was an airplane flying to Hawaii, a bus taking kids to school, a jail, a house and a restaurant. They have great imaginations. :)

Also brought a bunch of things they can put their hands on. Like the Perplexus.
Oh, and a kitchen timer so they can take turns without me hovering.

And while shopping at Goodwill over the weekend, I found a bunch of stamp pads and stamps. I had some specific kids in mind when I bought them, but one thing I've learned is that kids consistently surprise me. So I'm sure some of them will be interested in stamping and coloring their creations this week before I take the stuff out to my regular site.

I'm going to go out to my shed and see what stuff I have stashed out there, too. I know there's a lot of stuff that I could probably use this week or out at my regular school, and it's been quite awhile since I was steady enough to walk out there. (gotta dodge dog sausages and other hazards... hard to do on crutches.)

I seriously don't know how some sites can run a program. There just is not enough stuff at this site to keep kids busy. It's bare. Not much in the way of art supplies. Not much extra of anything.

I try to spend my monthly site budget about 2/3 disposable stuff... things that we'll use up eventually, like construction paper, glue, tape... and 1/3 things that will be more or less permanent. Playground balls, Legos, board games. When I took over the site, there wasn't much there. I've added and added and added. I paid for a lot myself, which I consider an investment rather than an expense, and I spend every dime of my site budget every month, trying to make good decisions.

I figure if I ever get rich and open up my own after school care program, I will have all those things I bought with my own money to start it with.
And if not?
Well, my kids are happy.

When I got home on Monday evening, Bob was on the phone. Remember Bob? He's my father in law.

And he'll be visiting us this year from April 16th through the 24th.
I guess I'd better start cleaning the house.

Hopefully I'll be over the creeping crud that's taken over my life for the last three weeks. Getting just a little old.